Speed Wobble?

Has it ever happened to you guys? I haven't experienced it and hope that I never do. Is it true that you want to accelerate out of it?



Loving sport bikes I lurk on a few forums and have heard a good deal about speed wobble on there but not a whisper of it over here... Is it because our bikes don't do 160+ mph that we dont have to worry about it? I know I dont want it to happen if I'm ever in triple digits or even just around 75. Do any of you guys put steering dampers on your bikes? Or is it not necessary? I read that it has something to do with the rake and close proximity that they are more prone to instability where as our bikes are less susceptible?

 

The rule of thumb is to accelerate out of it, if you have any power left. From my understanding is when you let off the throttle when a speed wobble occurs it makes it worse.

 

practice practice practice
practice some more

 

damn. thats a save right there!

 

...and this is what happens when you can't save it.
Looks like Bray Hill a very fast section on the TT circuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54fTFm5Dc-I

 

We're not STUPID enough to go that kind of speed. These bikes were not built for that to begin with, and anyone trying to ride these bikes like that..... Or do wheelies,stoppies,etc..... Is asking for trouble. What really makes me laugh is the people that DO try that kind of stuff on our bikes and then actually ask us why they have problems. Don't do it in
The first place and you'llsave yourself--- and your bike.

Dave

 

Never gets old watching, these guys are INSANE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph0SjLC_lqk

And heres an interesting clip on death at the IOM TT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOTvQuuQ7B4

 

You don't necessarily have to be going fast to have a tankslapper occur. A sudden (abrupt) irregularity in the road surface can cause one too.

 

A crash there is more like BANG...SPLAT.

there is 0% chance that a race like that would be held in North America.

I've seen dirt bike tracks where if too many people break bones then the track is shut down until it can be re-evaluated by a member of the sanctioning body thats holding the race.

 

last time I had a tankslapper was on my motocross bike on a long stretch at about 60mph thinking "AHHH FU..... Blackout"

 

agreed, i rode with bad steering bearings for about 6 months with my XJ, was passing a semi once at about 60-65 threw a curve and started getting barslap. just replaced those this year with tappered rollers woot!

 

Ryan, your right about the rake and trail, i rode a trials bike a few years and any soft dirt at speed in a straight line started it, on a trials bike you touch your butt on the back fender and gas it, that extends the forks changing the rake and trail.
on the road at speed it would take some big gahootneys to try that, maybe just slowly let off the gas

 

Be careful pulling a trailer on a two-wheeled vehicle. Too much tongue weight + speed and you'll get dumped onto the pavement

 

Okay so its not really a huge issue on our part? And none of you guys have them on your bikes? This isn't something I'm planning on doing just more of a curiosity thing.